Israel unrepentant61‘Come, let us return to the Lord.He has torn us to piecesbut he will heal us;he has injured usbut he will bind up our wounds.2After two days he will revive us;on the third day he will restore us,that we may live in his presence.3Let us acknowledge the Lord;let us press on to acknowledge him.As surely as the sun rises,he will appear;he will come to us like the winter rains,like the spring rains that water the earth.’4‘What can I do with you, Ephraim?What can I do with you, Judah?Your love is like the morning mist,like the early dew that disappears.5Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,I killed you with the words of my mouth – then my judgments go forth like the sun.[U]The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.7As at Adam,[V]Or Like Adam; or Like human beings they have broken the covenant;they were unfaithful to me there.8Gilead is a city of evildoers,stained with footprints of blood.9As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,so do bands of priests;they murder on the road to Shechem,carrying out their wicked schemes.10I have seen a horrible thing in Israel:there Ephraim is given to prostitution,Israel is defiled.11‘Also for you, Judah,a harvest is appointed.‘Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,